The electronic and optical properties of Eu/Si-codoped anatase TiO2 photocatalyst

The electronic and optical properties of Eu/Si-codoped anatase TiO(2) are investigated using the density functional theory. The calculated results show that the synergistic effects of Eu/Si codoping can effectively extend the optical absorption edge, which can lead to higher visible-light photocatalytic activities than pure anatase TiO(2). To verify the reliability of our calculated results, nanocrystalline Eu/Si-codoped TiO(2) is prepared by a sol-gel-solvothermal method, and the experimental results also indicate that the codoping sample exhibits better absorption performance and higher photocatalytic activities than pure TiO(2).